Ways to save money for the new year

As we go in to the new year, lots of us will be thinking about ways to save money and spend less. I for one am looking forward to saving some pennies and reducing some of my outgoings. I have worked out a few different ways of doing this and thought I would share them with you.

1. Meal Plan! Work out what you want to have for dinner for that week and write it down before shopping.
2. Shop from a list! 

Doing these two things alone will save you more than you think!! If you stick to your list, and shop wisely, using up anything you may already have at home, you really can cut the price of your grocery shop.

    3. No more Coffee shops! Invest in a nice travel coffee cup like I have. This will save me at least a fiver a week! Mine is from B&M and it is a colour in one. It was a Christmas present, and so fun to do.

  4. Use coupons where possible. In America couponing is big business but in the UK it isn't as huge. I have however found these websites that allow you to print off coupons each month. Any savings a saving right? 

Super Savvy Me

Ex Coup UK

Victoria

5. Switch companies! So far I have switched my broadband and also cancelled my SKY tv subscription in favour of NOW tv. This is another big saving each month. Shop around, use compare websites and find the best deal for you and your family.

This is just the start for me this year but hopefully these things combined will make me a good saving and I'll be on my way to being debt free!

Mrs H x

New Year New Start!

The time has come. Its been roughly 4 years since I decided I wanted to become a youtube vlogger and now Tyler and Sophie are hounding me to do it too. We are most definitely a youtube family and we watch various vloggers daily. From the kids favourites of Dan TDM and Chase's Corner, to mummy's favourites of The Conway's Claire Witt  and Rebecca Lamb to name but a few. Each year passes and I have either given it a small try or wished I had given it a serious go, and each time its fear of people laughing or fear of people not "getting it" that stops me. But as a family, this is a hobby and something that we really want to get in to. So here goes! Forget what people might say! Here's to a happy, healthy and FUN 2018 full of laughter love and enjoyment!

Happy New Year!

With love,

The Harvey's.

Back to School checklist

My kids are back to school this week. Im so sad about it, even though they are driving me round the twist with tablet time and arguments! Today alone I have heard things like "stop putting your feet on my castlleeeee" "how many times have i told you not to fart on my beeeeeddd?" "Why are you looking at my faceeeee" (the ends of the sentence always drone when they are moaning)

With this in mind I thought I'd do my back to school checklist!!

• Uniform.Cardigan/Jumper/Dress/Skirt/Shirt/Tie
• Jacket.
• School shoes.
• Pe kit and trainers/plimsolls.
• Lunchbox.
• Water Bottle.
• Backpack/Bookbag.
• Stationary. Pens/Colouring pencils/Writing pencils/Rubber/Ruler/Sharpener/Highlighters/Whiteboard pen and cloth.
• Label absolutely everything!!! 

I also like to print out a monthly calendar where I list everything from homework due in days to cake sales and dress up days. That way I am always in control and not frantically rushing to sainsburys the morning before a cake sale! (Been there too many times!) 

Good luck to everyone who's children are starting school and going in to new years and classrooms. Such a daunting time for these babies of ours!!

Camping Essentials for a First Timer

Having been camping this month for he first time as a family I now know what I would and wouldnt bring next time. That in mind I thought I would compile a list of camping essentials that I would 100% bring on our next camping trip.

• Torches or Lantern. It is dark at night time!
• Porta-Loo or a potty of sorts. Midnight runs to the communal loos, in the dark and cold are not fun!
• Lots of Layers. It is freezing at night time, even in the summer!
• Dry shampoo. Communal showers are not the nicest of places so a quick body wash and spritz of dry shampoo (or strip wash in the tent with a bowl and flannel) is a cleaner option i found.
• Kettle! Early mornings are cold and is nice to have a cup of tea in he comfort of your tent is well worth it. Hot chocolates with marshmallows of an evening is so cozy too!
• Picnic Blanket. I bought the type with plastic backing from primark. This doubled up as carpet for the front part of our tent which made it slightly cosier.
• Black bags! When rain was forecast I bagged any electrical stuff up just incase. You also dont realise how much rubbish you accumulate until you don't have a bin!
• Windbreaker or something to contain younger children and toddlers during times when you need them to be contained. 
• Lots of patience and positivity. Camping is not for the feint hearted. I found it quite tough a first but soon relaxed and got in to the spirit. There are wonderful family memories to be made!

Changing Parenting Style

With my first son Tyler, I wrapped him completely in cotton wool, and then in bubble wrap, and then a quilt.....you get the picture. As a first time parent I had no clue. I was overprotective and a little bit crazy. Every little thing panicked me. Don't get me wrong everything still worries me but I just handle it in a different way now.
After having three children my parenting style has really changed. I know what really matters and what to brush off. With Tyler I didn't like him to get too messy and I taught him to be gentle and kind and never let him play boisterously. He is such a sweet sensitive soul because of it. However, when we went to playgroups I would intervene if a disagreement happened over a toy or if someone was pushing and shoving I would move him away from the equation. As a result, along with being so kind and caring he also didn't know how to stick up for himself as his mama was always so fiercely protective. Jaxon being number 3 it is a whole different ball game for me and I really noticed it when I took him to his first playgroup last week. These little arguments over toys need to happen, they need to be questioned and they need not always have their own way. I know now that this isn't just one child being mean, or naughty but it is them learning how to communicate and be patient. The same with tantrums, I would avoid them at all costs with Tyler and do anything to distract him, but if distraction doesn't work for Jaxon and he really just wants to shout it out, I let him. Imagine being a child and your whole world was that packet of chocolate buttons that you weren't allowed to eat. They just don't understand, and its all a learning process. I just let him thrash it out and then give him a cuddle. It was a funny feeling watching certain things going on in that playgroup, when I know 8 years ago with Tyler I would have been so upset and annoyed by them. I'm not saying that I sit there and let Jaxon take other children's toys or let other children whack him with trains and lego blocks but these days I am much more relaxed about everything. These little Toddler groups are a place for our little monsters to grow, learn and become sociable. Last week Jaxon learned to wait his turn for the slide.....I wonder what he will learn next time!?

Mrs H x

Top tips to keep sickness bugs at bay!

Having 3 children, and volunteering in a school, I deal with my fair share (and more!) of the dreaded sickness bug. Along the way I have managed to swerve catching it a few times even when the whole family are dropping like flies. Some people may think my ways are a bit extreme BUT if it stops me or someone else from catching it then so be it! This mama bear needs to be fit and healthy for her cubs!

1. Quarantine! This is a big thing for me. If one of my family members start throwing up, the first thing I do is confine them to one room. (Usually their bedroom)
2. Clean like mad! Each time said family member is sick put bleach down the loo, dis infect the toilet seat, flush handle and things like the light switch and door handle. Dont forget the sink and the taps.
3. Wash your hands at every opportunity. Mostly these bugs get transferred from hand to mouth so wash with hot water and soap and then use anti bac gel afterwards.
4. Do NOT share towels.
5. As soon as symptoms subside wash all bedding on a hot wash.
6. Dettol Spray! This is a must for me. Once I have cleaned everything, I spray the dettol disinfectant EVERYWHERE! Sofas, walls, bedframes the lot!
7. Treatment - with a sickness bug the only thing I find that helps is not to eat and take SIPS of diarolyte. With children i syringe a few mls at a time every 10 mins or so. This is amazing stuff and really rehydrates the body. (I am not a doctor, please read all labels before using)

Sickness bugs are absolutely awful but unfortunately very common. Good hygiene is key but sometimes they are really powerful and with very young children its hard to confine it. I hope some of these tips have been useful to you.

Mrs H x

Week from hell.

This week has been ridiculous. So far, since last thursday, so thats 6 days ago, between them my children have battled conjunctivitus, tonsilitus, an ear infection and a sickness bug!! Honestly, you cannot make this stuff up. Each time i think, thank god thats coming to an end, something else hits! These poor kids need a break! So does this poor mama. Im praying to god I dont get ill as that would literally be the icing on the cake.

Cheer me up, give me some positivity. What fun things have you all been up to?

Mrs Hx

Birchbox Review April

This morning I received my first ever Birchbox through the post. It took a week to come from initial purchase so it was actually the April edition.
When the delivery lady handed the box over I was slightly surprised as I had expected it to be double the size, but hey what do I know, I am a Birchbox newbie!

From the postal packaging i thought it was a bit drab BUT when I opened it and realised it was a Boden edition I immeadiately changed my mind. I love Boden! Look how cute the box is!

I love the floral pattern and that fact that it is like a little drawer makes it feel that bit more special than just a box.

I was pleasantly surprised at the content as I was half expecting to get a load of products that I would never use, but actually it is all quite "neutral" in the fact that most people would use these kind of things. Handcream and conditioner for example. I did think though, that I would be receiving full size products and not minatures but I guess for 6 quid I cant grumble. (I was sent a money off voucher)
Here is a list of all the products that came inside the box.

There was also a £10 off Boden gift voucher inside which I cannot wait to use. Will no doubt be spent in the mini boden range!

Overall, I was pleasantly suprised with the products. I used the handcream and eyeliner straight away and will be using the conditioner and facial scrub this evening. (Its funny because I searched the whole of supeedrug for a facial scrub the other day amd couldnt find one!)
Im not sure yet if I will purchase the May edition Birchbox at full price but I do definiately feel a "subscription addiction" coming on!

Until the next one....

Mrs H x

Back to School

So its back to school for my big kiddies, after the bank holiday weekend. Me and Jaxon have spent the morning walking through our local park and then had a cheeky stop off at Costa. Come on, he worked those little legs so much this morning it was worth a treat right??

On the way home we stopped at our local greengrocer and picked up all this yummy goodness.

Here's to a good week ahead!

Mrs H x

May Bank Holiday Weekend

I cannot believe it is the first of May already. We had a busy bank holiday weekend, full of family time. On Saturday I spent the morning cleaning (aren't I always?) and then went to my local pub which had a beer festival on and bouncy castle out for the kids.

That evening early on we went to what was my first ever "gender reveal" party, it was lovely and so cleverly done! We also went to a friends house for a takeaway and to watch the big boxing match.
Sunday bought the first fair of the year as we went to a local secondary schools Spring Fete. The kids had lots of fun on the games and stalls and I came back with a coat for Frank! (my dog, who hates the cold and rain)

On Bank Holiday Monday we took a trip to pets at home, and I bought 3 new fish for the kids fish tank. We were supposed to win some more from the fete the day before but it seems they have stopped that stall now, which is a shame as they have had that stall there since I was a child. Anyway the kids spoke to the worker at pets at home, who was very informative, and he told us what fish could and couldn't live together. We ended up with 2 goldfish, one yellow, one speckled and a weather loach, which looks like a cross between a catfish and an eel.

Rest of the day was spent playing minecraft, monopoly and making fairy gardens. It was lovely.

I hope you all had a fab long weekend!

Mrs H x

20 Facts about me Tag

I was tagged by Beth from a blonde and a baby to do the 20 facts about me tag, so here goes!

1. I am 29 years old.
2. I am 5 ft 6 and a half!
3. I have size 7 feet. (i know!)
4. I am a mother of 3.
5. I support Chelsea.
6. I am secretly a good singer but I get very stage fright.
7. I am half Irish.
8. I have a ridiculously sweet tooth.
9. I went back to college last year to study teaching.
10. I'm petrified of clowns.
11. I sleep walk and talk.
12. I believe in guardian angels.
13. I used to be petrified of dogs until I got my own!
14. Its a dream of mine to be able to take my children to different countries as they grow up.
15. I am addicted to Tea and chocolate.
16. I am a disney fanatic.
17. I panic about every little thing. (i'm trying to stop this!)
18. I take photo's everyday!
19. I wear glasses to read and watch tv.
20. I love Eastenders.

I tag Rachel at www.coffeecakekids.com and Anna at squatssassandsaggyskin.co.uk 

Look forward to reading your 20 facts ladies.

Mrs Hx

No evidence of Mummy.

How is it that as parents we have hundreds of photographs of our children and hardly any that include us mums? I take photographs daily,on my phone, so you can imagine how many photographs I have in total. Even if i took only one photo day, thats 365 pictures in the year. Thats without days out and special occasions where we all get snap happy! Of course these snaps are our precious memories caught on paper. There forever for us to look back on, and how amazing is it that we have the technology to take these photos and share with the world at the click of a button! What I dont have is pictures of me, as a mother, plenty of selfies, but not in my natural role. Why is it that us Mums are always in the background? We are like the foundations of a building, holding it all together but not seen. I'm making it my challenge to have more photos taken with me in. Of course I am usually always the one taking them, but I dont want my children to grow up and not have their childhood captured with me in it! So what my hair needs a wash, so what I'm carrying all that extra weight, so what I'm not wearing any make up. The next time we have a family day out I will ask that person behind me to take a family photo, and the next time someone takes a natural shot of me I wont ask for it to be deleted because of my make up free face. From here on I am going to embrace the camera and capture even more memories of my children AND their mummy.

What I wore

I thought I would show you my go to, school run mum, outfit choices. When you are a mum on the go its hard not to get stuck in a rut of "ease dressing". By that I mean just chucking on whatever is clean. I have definitely been guilty of this for a while but now that the baby is a bit older and more confident, I am trying to take a bit more care of myself ( as well as everyone else!)

Here is what I wore on Wednesday.

My top is from George at Asda
My jeggings are NEXT
Boots are good old Primark
Lastly my navy lightweight jacket is from M&S

Mum to be Birthday Gift Idea.

Yesterday was my close friends 29th birthday. She is also 30 weeks pregnant. Usually I would buy her some flowers and a bottle of prosecco, but obviously this time alcohol was out of the question. I popped in to my local Asda supermarket and found her this gorgeous mum to be pack from Nspa.

This gift set contains Nipple Balm 75ml, Nourishing Stretch Mark Oil 150ml, Moisturising Bump Butter 200ml and Beauty Rituals Deep Cleansing Mud Mask 15ml.

To go with this, I also picked her up one of the Home Inspiration candles by Yankee

My friend absolutely loved her gifts and for a pregnant woman, you cant go wrong with candles and smellies!

Lets get organised!

Since I became a mum of 3, 16 months ago, my life has become chaotic and unorganised. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't change my little family for all the neat filing systems and empty washing baskets in the world but I do always wish my life was a bit more organised. Purely for the fact that if everything was planned in advance and in order, then I would have more time to spend doing the things that my children and I love to do. Somehow though, every time I try to get order in my life I always end up back where I started. I have enlisted the help of some fellow bloggers to make myself ( and you!) a list of tips to keep on top!

• So, firstly, from Jen over at Just Average Jen "Write coffee at the top of your to do list and then it is easy to do at least one thing."
• Rebecca, over at The everyday mummy says "get things prepped the night before"
• Mummy Gummie Blog's Lisa says "write a list with only three things a day, that way it isn't daunting and you get the satisfaction from having a completed list"
• Birthdays and parties are always sorted last minute in my house. When I say last minute, I usually mean a mad dash to the supermarket half hour before the party starts! Hannah from The Amphletts buys cards in bulk, including a variety of aged and plain ones so that she never gets caught at last minute like I always do!
• When working or getting important stuff done, Louise over at A strong coffee to go says " don't have Facebook or twitter on! So easy to get distracted!"
• Lastly, Hollie from thrifty mum says "Before bed, visualise the next day and write a list, get out anything you can prepare in advance and then get a good nights sleep. You'll feel mentally and physically rested that way and therefore more able to take on the day."

With all of this in mind I have made packed lunches and laid out uniforms and bags and coats for tomorrow morning. Here's to an organised week!

Mrs Hx

Teeth Whitening at home

Recently in Superdrug I purchased this "1 Week Tooth Whitening Kit" by the brand Brilliant

It was on offer with a 1/3 off the original price, so I thought I would give it a try. As someone who suffers with weak enamel and dull coloured teeth I thought it was worth a shot! On the box it states that the "Enamel friendly formula" can get your teeth "4 shades whiter in 1 week", so as of today (Saturday 22nd April) I will be giving this a try. Next week I will do a full review, with before and after photos and my honest opinion of the product and how it worked. Keep an eye on this blog and my Instagram page.

Mrs H x

The Mum Tag

So here is the mum tag. 20 questions about the kind of mum that I am.

1. How many children do you have? 3, two sons one daughter.

And how old are they? 8, 5 and 16 months old.

2. What are your proudest and most frustrating moments as a parent? I couldn't possibly pick one moment where I've been most proud. They make me proud every day! Most frustrating moments are when they just don't listen.

3. How do you discipline your child/children? I take things away eg no treats or computer time

4. Do you co-sleep? not intentionally. If one of my children cant sleep and they get in my bed then that's fine.

5. What is your one MUST HAVE piece of baby equipment? A dummy. All 3 of my children have had them, none have teeth problems or had problems getting rid of them.

6. Name one thing you bought before you had your baby and you never ended up using? Top and tail bowl.

7. Have you always wanted kids? How many more do you plan on having? No more for me. I always wanted four but they are too expensive lol.

8. Do you think your relationship with your spouse has changed since you had children? Better or worse? Completely changed.

9. Date night? How many nights (or days) per month? Hardly ever.

10. How is your relationship with friends since having a child? Still really good. we have dinner once a week.

11. How many cars does your family have? 1

12. Dream vacation with your kiddos AND one without the kiddos? Disney with the kids and a city break without

13. Where do you shop for your kids? Usually Next or the supermarket brands

14. Favourite mommy makeup and skin care products? Estee Lauder double wear foundation and body shops vitamin e range.

15. Since becoming parents, do you notice you act more like your own mother (for mom) / father (for dad)? Definitely. Its like a switch that's gone off haha.

16. Piercing a baby’s ear: do or don’t? My view on this has completely changed. My first two children had them pierced and my first son took his out at 3 and never put it back in. My daughter pulled hers out a month or so later and never went back in. I wouldn't even dream of taking my 3rd to get that done and tbh I don't know what I was thinking doing it the first 2 times!!

17. Bath or shower? (for you and child/children) bath for me and baby, shower for older kids.

18. Is mom back to her pre baby weight? HAHA NO!

19. College dreams: Do you expect your kids to go to college? Or would you let them decide for themselves? I will let them decide for themselves ultimately but I do have big dreams of college and university for them all.

20. Finish these sentences: “you know you’re a mom when you___ can function on broken sleep for years!!

I  would love to read other peoples answers to these questions. I'll add them in the comments below. Please let me know if you decide to do this yourself!

Mrs H x

What is happening to Carshalton Ponds?

For a while now, I have noticed the water level in our beloved local ponds getting lower. I kept thinking to myself it couldn't have been from rain levels. I mean I know we are having a lovely spring so far but a drought, in April, is just unheard of!
This week my 3 children and I ventured in to Carshalton as we do weekly to burn off some energy in Grove park and feed the ducks and squirrels. As we got to the river, we noticed that the water was down by at least 2 foot. The birds were literally walking through sludge. Smaller ones able to float, just about, but the geese were just wading in the mud. It was hard to watch I have to admit. So we took a walk up to the main pond, which may as well be called Carshalton Puddle at this moment in time. It was empty! Apart from the small amount of water in the centre, it was completely drained. Birds that should be nesting were without their home, some sat on concrete ledges and a lot of them huddled together on the Wilderness Island.
I cant believe the state that the pond is in at the moment and it is so sad to see the wildlife suffering like this in their natural surroundings. I for one, hope this gets fixed as soon as it possibly can be. Those ponds are the heart of Carshalton, one of the few things left around here that holds the village's heritage and history.

Coffee Shop Mums

What is it about coffee shops and mums with babies and young children? You know the type, a new mum with her hair pinned back, jeans and converse on and a teeny tiny newborn sleeping in the pram next to her. Or the mums that meet up there and have toddlers or multiples in tow sharing croissants, ellas kitchen snacks and babychinos. Any coffee shop you go to you will find these Mums. I know, because I am one! A "coffee shop mum". Costa is my local haunt, but I'm not afraid to stray. From the moment I had my first son I became one of these women. I remember (8 years ago now) I would time his second feed with the time I would get to the local Starbucks. For one, I had found a new love for coffee, and lets be honest, every mum needs her caffeine fix, but for two, it made me feel slightly normal again. In the whirlwind that is early motherhood, a trip to the coffee shop in the morning really helps when you are on your own with no adult conversation for long periods of time! Its nice to get out of the house for a start, and honestly baby groups once or twice a week is more than enough! I could have shares in almond croissants and Costa coffee now and 3 kids down the line I am as much of a coffee shop mum as I was then!

Whos with me? Lets cheers our Lattes, and clink our mochas to the "coffee shop mums!" HAng in there ladies.

Mrs Hx

Making your own destiny

There comes a point in life when you realise that living life day by day gets you nowhere. It doesn't take you any place different than where you are at that very moment. I have lived my life day to day for a very long time, just seeing where life takes me. Guess what? I'm still here, in the same situation as I was then. Yes I have 3 beautiful children, and I am in no way talking about them, as I would never change them for all the riches in the world. But there comes a point in life when you want more. More for them, more for me, more for us. It is time for us to move on to the next chapter in our lives and I need to work out which route I am going to take. I want bigger for my children, biggest that I can possibly give them. I want to know how to drive and live in a bigger house and earn money and take them places and learn new things. Its time. I don't want to keep living my life day to day just seeing what happens anymore. I have plans and dreams and I'm going to make them happen.
Some people may read this post as negative but in actual fact it is nothing but positive. I have inspired myself, and it is a great feeling. No one is in charge of your life but you. You make your own destiny.

Mrs H